Texas reclaims “Governor’s Cup” for business-friendly climate

If Gov. Rick Perry needed another reason to toot his own horn for being so business-savvy, here is his chance.

On Monday, Texas was awarded first place in Site Selection’s 2012 facilities race, winning back the Governor’s Cup.

The annual award is given to governments with the highest number of qualified capital investment projects from the previous year. Texas took back the title after Ohio beat the state in 2011. This year, the Lone Star State won with 761 projects, compared to just 464 projects previously and out matching runner-up Ohio by more than 270 projects.

SiteSelection.com

“This is a confirmation of the men and women of the Texas legislature understanding that if we will continue with the predictability and stability of tax and regulation and legal policy that allows entrepreneurs to keep more of what they earn, then we will become the job creation magnet of America,” Perry told the magazine in February. “That is what has happened.”

Site Selection, a business publication, credited Perry’s “make-the-business-climate-better-agenda” for the win in an article on the state’s victory. The magazines said the state’s investments in energy, chemicals, machine manufacturing, data centers, and corporate projects were key to the its success.

Perry has yet to shy away from an opportunity to brag about his state’s successful business environment, going so far as to visit other states in a grass is greener pitch to lure businesses to Texas. To no surprise, his recent jaunt to California was not well received by Gov. Jerry Brown. Perry also reached out to a high-capacity ammunition manufacturer in Colorado following talks of restrictive gun control in its state legislature.

But for what its worth, Perry’s efforts seem to be paying off. Just two months into 2013 and the Site Selection says Texas already has a promising start to maintain a lead in facility growth for the coming year.

The Texas congressional delegation quickly echoed the magazine’s kudos. Rep. Blake Farenthold, a Corpus Christi Republican, tweeted that he is “proud our great state continues to outpace [the nation] in economic growth.”